After the Madre Fire, the Los Angeles Dodgers Become a “Mobile Relief Team” – Driving Their Own Supply Trucks Into the Heart of the Fire

CALIFORNIA – As the last traces of the flames were extinguished and smoke still hung in the sky over Central California from the historic Madre Fire, a convoy of distinctive blue vehicles began rolling into the devastated area. It wasn’t a government relief team, nor was it some familiar humanitarian organization – it was the players and staff of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

They weren’t there to play. They were there to carry hope.

Madre Fire: The Loss Is Incalculable
Erupting in early July 2025, the Madre Fire has ravaged more than 95,000 acres of forest and homes, leaving more than 30,000 homeless

At least 11 people have died, dozens of schools, hospitals, and fire stations have been completely destroyed

The Tulare, Fresno, and Visalia areas are in ash and despair

The Dodgers didn’t send money – they went in person
As soon as the news of the damage was confirmed, the Dodgers’ leadership called an emergency meeting. And instead of organizing online donations or issuing a press release, the team made an unprecedented decision: to become a self-driving relief convoy, driven, coordinated, and delivered by its own players and staff.

In less than 36 hours, nine medium-sized trucks were mobilized from the Dodger Stadium logistics system, loaded with:

More than 10,000 hot meals, clean water, cereal bars, milk and baby food

Tents, blankets and solar flashlights

Fever reducers, bandages, hand sanitizer, smoke-filtering masks

And especially thousands of toys and children’s books prepared by the players’ families

Not just goods – but real feelings
Each relief package included a handwritten card from the players, with messages such as:

“Your family is stronger than ever – from the Dodgers family”
“You are not alone, we are here” – signed: Mookie Betts
“If you need a new pitch to start again, let me be the one” – Shohei Ohtani

Coach Dave Roberts: “It’s not relief. This is a people-oriented trip.”

Sitting behind the wheel of a team-branded car, coach Dave Roberts said, “We don’t want to stand on the sidelines and wave our flags. We want to be the ones who go out there, see the pain, and do something real.”

A game without fans – but a victory in the hearts of the people
Without stadium lights, without a scoreboard, and without cheers from the stands, the Dodgers won a resounding victory that day in the hearts of thousands of people standing in the midst of the devastation, waiting for a glimmer of hope.

Because sometimes, a team doesn’t just win… it also brings a reason to stand up again.